From 'historic' to 'sleaziness': Reaction to the school choice bill and how it was approved

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Lawmakers and others gave various reactions to the surprise passage of a bill that will give tax credits to families at "failing schools" to send their children to a private school or another public school. The tax credit provision was added when a bill dealing with waivers from education policies went to conference committee. The new version was quickly approved by the GOP majorities.

-- "School children who woke up this morning with little opportunity and few hopes for success now have a clearly lit path to a quality education and a brighter future," bill sponsor Rep. Chad Fincher, R-Semmes, said.

"This is the worst thing that has ever hit public education," Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville.

-- "I truly believe it is the most significant piece of legislation that's been passed in this Legislature in years," Gov. Robert Bentley said.

-- “This is a bait and switch. ...
There is no way that happened in the thirty minutes that the conference
committee met today. This bill has been sitting in someone’s desk drawer
for months," House Minority Leader Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, said.

-- "We commend state lawmakers for taking an historic first step toward
providing families with children trapped in failing schools options for
the first time," said StudentsFirst Founder and CEO Michelle Rhee.